What to do if a newborn has high jaundice?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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If a newborn baby has high jaundice that exceeds normal values, it is considered pathological jaundice. Pathological jaundice requires timely intervention. It is generally recommended to go to the hospital, where a specialist in neonatology will conduct a thorough examination of the baby. If necessary, hospitalization or medication might be required for treatment. It is advised that parents should not handle high jaundice on their own, as they generally do not know when the newborn is in a pathological state. It is best to have a specialist doctor manage and treat the baby’s jaundice, and the specialist will also guide the treatment of the jaundice.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 35sec home-news-image

How should newborns with jaundice sunbathe?

Generally, when we say that the jaundice level is high, doctors might suggest sunbathing when it approaches pathological values, and possibly taking probiotics with live bacteria to help the baby recover from jaundice. Normally, for sunbathing, it is advised not to do it through glass, and to expose the skin directly to the sun, but you should not expose the baby's eyes directly to the sun because the ultraviolet rays are too strong and may damage the eyes. Additionally, when sunbathing, if it is during the cooler seasons like winter, spring, or autumn, it is important to ensure the baby does not catch a cold. If it is summer, avoid sunbathing during times when the sun is too strong, as the baby's delicate skin might get sunburned, potentially causing harm. Therefore, it is generally best to choose conditions when the temperature is mild and the wind is not too strong, then pay attention to keeping warm or avoiding sunburn. Generally, it is not recommended to use sunscreen or shade for sunbathing; direct exposure of the skin is needed. Parents should consider the actual condition of the disease and try to make the baby as comfortable as possible, avoiding colds or sunburn. If sunbathing is not effective, it is advisable to promptly visit the hospital for a doctor to determine if treatment intervention is necessary.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Which department should a newborn with jaundice go to?

If a newborn has jaundice, it is first necessary to distinguish whether it is physiological jaundice or pathological jaundice. For physiological jaundice, it is self-healing, so there is no need to visit a hospital. As for pathological jaundice, it occurs within 24 hours after birth, or the daily increase in jaundice is particularly large, exceeding the normal range. In such cases, the child should be taken to the hospital for timely medical treatment. Generally, for general hospitals, it is appropriate to visit the pediatric department. If it is a children's hospital or a municipal maternal and child health hospital, then the child should be taken to the neonatology department. Neonatologists will actively treat the child's jaundice and, as a rule, pathological jaundice requires hospitalization.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Neonatal jaundice peak period is a few days.

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms during the neonatal period; it could be a normal physiological phenomenon, or it might be an external manifestation of certain diseases. Typically, physiological jaundice appears two to three days after birth, reaches its peak within four to five days in full-term infants, and may appear sooner and be more severe in preterm infants due to their less mature liver function. The peak period lasts longer for preterm babies; generally, in full-term infants, jaundice usually starts declining about a week later, subsiding around ten days, generally not lasting more than two weeks.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What should be done if a newborn's jaundice is higher than 275?

The newborn's jaundice level has already exceeded 275, indicating that the jaundice is elevated. Typically, when jaundice is high, it is advisable to complete liver function tests to check how high the bilirubin level is in the blood. If the bilirubin in the blood is also definitely above 275, this is certainly pathological jaundice. Pathological jaundice generally suggests going to the hospital, where a specialist in neonatology will guide the treatment based on the baby's specific condition. If the baby presents with other accompanying symptoms, hospital intervention and treatment might be necessary. If the general condition is still good, the doctor might advise you to go home with medication or other interventions, with regular follow-up appointments. It is recommended that parents seek timely hospital intervention for high jaundice levels.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Symptoms of higher neonatal jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is one of the common symptoms during the neonatal period, with about 80% of full-term infants visibly exhibiting jaundice. Jaundice may occur as part of the normal developmental process or as a manifestation of certain diseases. It is categorized into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice. High levels of jaundice may indicate pathological jaundice. Generally, if the baby's skin and mucous membranes are obviously yellow, and the jaundice has spread to the limbs or even beyond the palms and soles, which are also notably yellow, it is a sign that the jaundice is severe. Parents can typically observe a clear yellowing of the sclera, the white part of the eyes. The baby may also show other signs of discomfort, such as significant crying and restlessness, pronounced vomiting or increased regurgitation, or even symptoms like abdominal bloating, diarrhea, reluctance to feed, prolonged feeding times, lethargy, or potentially even fever and other discomforts.